Syllabus
Principles of Genetics/BSC324-101/BSC324-102/BSC-103
4 credit hours
Fall 2014
Times/Location
Lecture
BSC324-101/102/103 TR12:30 pm-1:45 pm S376
Lab
BSC324-101 M 1:00 pm-3:50 pm S381
BSC324-102 T 9:00 am-11:50 am S381
BSC324-103 W 9:00 am-11:50 am S381
Instructor
Herman L. Mays Jr., PhD., Assistant Professor
Office: S390
Tel: (304) 696-6245
Email: maysh@marshall.edu
Office hours: M 11:00 am-1:00 pm or by appointment
GA
Shaimar Roselyn Gonzalez
Tel: (304) 696-6717
Email: gonzalez15@marshall.edu
Office hours: W 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm TH 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
University policies
By enrolling in this course, you agree to the University Policies listed below. Please
read the full text of each policy be going to www.marshall.edu/academic-affairs and
clicking on “Marshall University Policies.” Or, you can access the policies directly by
going to http://www.marshall.edu/academic-affairs/?page_id=802
This link contains university policies for Academic Dishonesty/ Excused Absence
Policy for Undergraduates/ Computing Services Acceptable Use/ Inclement
Weather/ Dead Week/ Students with Disabilities/ Academic Forgiveness/ Academic
Probation and Suspension/ Academic Rights and Responsibilities of Students/
Affirmative Action/ Sexual Harassment
Course Description
This course will provide students with a general introduction to the science of
biological inheritance. We will cover the broad areas of transmission or classical
genetics, molecular genetics and population genetics in a coordinated lecture and
laboratory format. The laboratory will be a venue for hands-on laboratory
experiments and other exercises designed to illustrate key principles in genetics.
Additionally the laboratory will be a forum for reviewing material covered in lecture
and participating in discussions and practice problem sessions.
Student Learning Outcomes
Learning outcome
Basic principles of
transmission genetics
Basic principles of
molecular genetics
Basic principles of
population genetics and
phylogenetic analysis
Basic understanding of
the history of genetic
science and the major
contributors to our
understanding of
inheritance.
Broader societal
impacts of genetics
Ability to access,
analyze and assimilate
the scientific literature
Activities (lecture and lab)
-Lecture, assigned readings and
additional media (lecture)
-Group problem solving sessions
(lecture, lab)
-Group activities on Mendelian
inheritance and Drosophila genetics
(laboratory)
-Lecture, assigned readings and
additional media (lecture)
-Group problem solving sessions
(lecture, lab)
-Group activities on DNA barcoding
(laboratory)
-Lecture, assigned readings and
additional media (lecture)
-Group problem solving sessions
(lecture, lab)
-Group activities genetic drift in
Drosophila and phylogenetic analysis
(laboratory)
-Lecture, assigned readings and
additional media (lecture)
Assessment
Exams (Lecture)
Quizzes (Lecture and
laboratory)
Lab reports (Laboratory)
-Lecture, assigned readings and
additional media (lecture)
-Assignment of the film GATTACA to be
accompanied by an in class discussion
of the broader societal impacts of
genetics (lecture)
In class discussion (Lecture and
laboratory)
Exams (Lecture)
In class tutorials on bioinformatics and
the scientific literature in general with
instructions as to what constitutes valid
peer-reviewed source material (Lecture
and laboratory)
Laboratory reports (Laboratory)
Exams (Lecture)
Quizzes (Lecture and
laboratory)
Lab reports (Laboratory)
Exams (Lecture)
Quizzes (Lecture and
laboratory)
Lab reports (Laboratory)
Exams (Lecture)
Quizzes (Lecture and
laboratory)
Lab reports (Laboratory)
Exams (Lecture)
Quizzes (Lecture and
laboratory)
Lab reports (Laboratory)
Required Text
Hartl, Daniel L. and Ruvolo, Maryellen. 2012. Genetics: Analysis of Genes and
Genomes, 8th edition. Jones and Bartlett Learning.
Additional supplemental reading of the primary literature will occur in addition to
the textbook readings.
No laboratory manual is required. Laboratory activities will be described on
handouts to be distributed in class or over Blackboard.
Additional material: GATTACA (1997). You will be assigned this film to watch
outside of class for a discussion at the end of the semester on ethics and genetics
and society. The film is available from a myriad of sources (iTunes, Netflix, library,
etc.) and I encourage you to arrange a time to watch it with your classmates in small
groups.
Student Assessment
Your grade for the entire course will be a combination of your lecture and
laboratory grades.
Grading Policy – Lecture
Quizzes (20 points x 3 = 60 points)
Problem-solving sessions (50 points x 3 = 150 points)
Exams (100 points x 3 = 300 points)
Final Exam (100 points)
Total 610 points
A >549
B 488-548
C 427-487
D 366-426
F <366
Grading – Laboratory
Quizzes (20 points x 3 = 60 points)
Laboratory reports (100 points x 4 = 400 points)
Final Presentation (100 points)
Total 560 points
A >503
B 448-503
C 392-447
D 336-391
F <336
Course Schedule – Lecture (schedule subject to change as needed)
August 26 NO CLASS
August 28 First day of lecture
September 1 labor day
September 8 Labs start
Transmission Genetics and DNA
August 28 – September 18 Hartl and Ruvolo Chapters 1-5 (we will cover these
chapters a little out of order starting with chapters 3-5 followed by chapters 1-2)
September 16 Quiz I (20 points)
September 18 Group problem-solving session I (50 points)
September 23 Exam I (100 points)
Chromosomes, replication, gene expression and regulation
September 25 – October 16 Hartl and Ruvolo Chapters 6-8, 10-11
October 14 Quiz II (20 points)
October 16 Group problem-solving session II (50 points)
October 21 Exam II (100 points)
Mutation, extranuclear inheritance, quantitative genetics, phylogenetics and
population genetics
October 23 – November 18 Hartl and Ruvolo Chapters 14, 16-18
November 13 Quiz III (20 points)
November 18 Group problem-solving session III (50 points)
November 20 Exam III (100 points)
Week of November 24 Thanksgiving/Fall Break NO LECTURE/NO LABS
Week of December 1 DEAD WEEK Review and discussion
Week of December 8 FINALS WEEK
Final Exam Tuesday December 9 12:45 pm - 2:45 pm (100 points)
Course Schedule – Laboratory (schedule subject to change as needed)
Laboratory activities are listed by the week they occur. Section 101 activities will
occur on Monday of that week, section 102 will occur on Tuesday and section 103
on Wednesday. Labs will likely in most case not take up the entire class period for
the laboratory. Remaining time in lab will be reserved for review questions, sample
problems, discussion and questions on the material from lecture.
Topic and lab activity
Lab week of …
Transmission Genetics
Mendelian inheritance simulation and statistical analysis
Drososphila genetics (Lab report required)
September 8
September 15, 22 and 29
DNA, Molecular Genetics and Bioinformatics
PCR and DNA barcoding (Lab report required)
October 6, 13, 20
Population Genetics and Genetic Drift
Genetic Drift in Drosophila (Lab report required)
October 13, 20, 27 and November 3
Phylogenetic analyses
Primate family tree analysis (Lab report required)
Group Presentation (submit topic by week of Oct 6)
November 10
November 17
August 26 NO CLASS
August 28 First day of lecture
September 1 labor day
September 8 Labs start
Week of November 24 Thanksgiving/Fall Break NO LECTURE/NO LABS
Week of December 1 DEAD WEEK Review and discussion
Week of December 8 FINALS WEEK (no laboratory final, only a lecture final)
Due dates for lab reports (subject to change if needed)
Drosophila genetics Week of October 13
PCR and DNA barcoding Week of October 27
Genetic drift in Drosophila Week of November 17
Phylogenetics Week of December 1
Dates for lab quizzes TBA